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19 August 2019The amazing variety of modern pools

In times gone by, a swimming pool came in a standard shape, in a small number of styles. Advances in pool building design and technology mean that potential owners now have a wealth of choice available. Which pool you choose will depend on several factors including cost, available space, location, local building regulations and design preferences. In this post, we take a look at some of the pools you can choose from, including moving floor pools and waterfall marvels.

Indoor or Outdoor: In the UK, indoor pools are more common because the weather is less predictable than it is in sunshine climates where outdoor pools are common. These pools are either installed in a dedicated pool hall in the house or as an extension. There are many benefits to indoor pools, the most obvious being that they can be used all year round. Many people prefer an outdoor pool so they can enjoy the ‘great outdoors’ - they are fantastic for socialising and entertaining family and friends by the pool. From a construction point of view, an advantage of an outdoor pool over an indoor pool is that, typically, a private outdoor pools do not require planning consent, but do check this with the local authority planning department before commissioning any work.

A recreational outdoor pools provides fun and relaxation. Typically found in family homes, these are pools are ideal for family BBQs and pool parties, rather than serious swimming training. They will often be equipped with slides, tunnels and water sports facilties such polo goals and volleyball nets.

Moving Floor Pools: One of the most popular types of pool at the moment, moving floor pools are making waves for good reason. This is because they allow for pool construction even in unlikely properties where space is already at a premium. Twinscape describes the conundrum in a case study: “The client had a young family who enjoyed swimming but they also wanted a play area that was secure, safe and dry. They liked the fact that a moving floor would give them peace of mind during social functions or when the children had access to the room unsupervised.”

A movable floor means a great swimming pool can become invisible at the push of a button. The humidity of the room is not altered once the cover is over, and the smell of chlorine is negligible. Guests will never even know it's there.

Infinity Pools: This type of pool is a winner all over the world, often as a selling point for luxury hotels. These pools create a seamless edge to one side of the pool. The best way to impress guests is to have more than one cascading waterfall installed as part of your infinity pool – they never fail to bring the 'wow' factor to any pool.

Lap Pools: We all know that swimming regularly is an excellent way to keep fit. It works several different muscle groups, improving lung capacity and heart health. But with space constraints, it can be difficult to find room for a normal pool. A lap pool is a smart, space-saving way to enjoy the health benefits of a swimming pool, at a fraction of the size. With enough room to comfortably do a lap, you'll wonder why you ever bothered swimming anywhere else. Lap pool owners may also want to consider “extending” their pool with a counter-current unit.

Plunge Pool: A small, very cold and deep pool for owners to plunge in feet first and experience a therapeutic rush of cold water after a hot workout. They can either be standalone pools or you might sometimes see them attached to recreational or lap pools.

Olympic Size Pools: For the more ambitious potential pool owner, an Olympic-sized pool is the ultimate construction project. Measuring a whopping 50 metres long and 25 metres wide, an Olympic pool is also around 2 metres deep, depending on your preferences. This type of pool is also available to commercial customers looking to set their premises out from the crowd.

Hydrotherapy Pools: This type of pool is typically a commercial enterprise, installed to help those with specific medical needs like post-operative patients or the less able-bodied. According to Arthritis Research UK, the benefits are felt quickly: “Hydrotherapy involves special exercises that you do in a warm water pool. Hydrotherapy combines the benefits of exercise and soothing warm water. [It] allows your muscles to relax and eases pain in your joints, helping you to exercise. Helps to relieve pain and increase the range of movement of your joints.”

At London Swimming Pool Company we specialise in swimming pool design, construction and refurbishment, so if you need advice on a brand new pool, contact us for an initial discussion – there’s no substitute for expert advice.